Beyond Duty And Grief
First Meet
There was an alarm ringing continuosly
kang In-joon
Yaaawn!
* stretch *
kang In-joon
* Turn off the alarm *
kang In-joon
* goes to bathroom *
kang In-joon
* Look in the mirror *
Hmm..
Handsome😌
Kang In-joon as usual freshened up and made his own breakfast
After eating and washing dishes, he got ready for college
kang In-joon
* grabs his bag and walks outside *
kang In-joon
* takes his bike from the garage and heads to college *
kang In-joon
After reaching college, he checked his phone
kang In-joon
* Saw a college group message *
" The first period is cancelled
The professor is absent "
kang In-joon
💭 Seriously? Lucky day
kang In-joon
💭 Maybe I should study in the library...
kang In-joon
💭 Exams are close anyway
He started studying
After a while—
He scribbled on the paper
kang In-joon
You've got to be kidding me...
A soft voice interrupted him
Seo Eun-chae
Do you need a pen? I have a spare one
kang In-joon
Really?
Thank you 😊
Seo Eun-chae
I don’t think I’ve seen you before.
Which major are you from?
kang In-joon
Business Management.
What about you?
Seo Eun-chae
By the way, I’m Seo Eun-chae
* offers her hand *
kang In-joon
* shakes her hand *
Kang In-joon
Seo Eun-chae
Nice name
You’re studying for exams, right?
I won’t disturb you further
kang In-joon
Not at all
You’re not disturbing me
kang In-joon
* Starts his bike *
kang In-joon
* Rides out of the campus *
He noticed someone running towards the bus stop
She stopped, slightly out of breath
kang In-joon
💭 Isn't that the girl from the library?
kang In-joon
💭 What was her name again…
Getting Familiar
Seo Eun-chae
* turns around *
Seo Eun-chae
Oh! It's you!
kang In-joon
Looks like you missed the bus
Seo Eun-chae
Now I have to wait for the next one
kang In-joon
When is it coming?
Seo Eun-chae
In about a hour
Seo Eun-chae
My house is actually pretty far away.
Seo Eun-chae
So I always try to catch this specific bus, or I get home way too late.
kang In-joon
In that case, do you want a ride? I can drop you off.
Seo Eun-chae
Wait, really? 😳
Seo Eun-chae
No, no. You don't have to do that!
kang In-joon
It’s fine, really. I live pretty far out too
And looking at the bus you just missed we're probably headed the same way anyway
Seo Eun-chae
Are you sure?
kang In-joon
Yeah, definitely
Seo Eun-chae
Okay then!
I’m in your hands
Seo Eun-chae
Thanks for looking after me!
*She hopes onto the back of the bike*
kang In-joon
* Starts the engine *
kang In-joon
*speeds up slightly*
Seo Eun-chae
Whooo! This is actually so cool! 🍃
kang In-joon
So, where exactly do you live?
Seo Eun-chae
It's on XX street, the XX building
kang In-joon
* eyes widen in shock *
kang In-joon
Wait, Seriously?
kang In-joon
I live right there—in the building across from yours
Seo Eun-chae
No way! For real?
Seo Eun-chae
I’m on the 3rd floor of this one. What about you?
kang In-joon
I’m on the 5th floor right over there
Seo Eun-chae
What a coincidence! The world is so small
kang In-joon
But how come I’ve never seen you before? I usually notice people on this street
Seo Eun-chae
Oh! That’s probably because my family only moved in about two weeks ago
kang In-joon
Ah, that makes sense
As they ride, the realize how close they live makes the conversation even easier
kang In-joon
Hey, since we live right next to each other and go to the same college...
kang In-joon
Do you want to just ride with me every day?
Seo Eun-chae
Wait, really? You wouldn't mind the company?
kang In-joon
Not at all. It’s way better than you waiting an hour for that bus
Seo Eun-chae
That would be amazing! You're a lifesaver, Kang In-joon!
kang In-joon
You can just call me In-joon
Seo Eun-chae
'kay In-joon 😁
They continue chatting about their schedules as the bike pulls up to their street
They soon reach their destination
Seo Eun-chae
* hops down from the bike *
Seo Eun-chae
Give me your phone
We need to coordinate our timing for tomorrow!
She quickly types in her number and calls herself to save the contact
Seo Eun-chae
There! Save my number
Seo Eun-chae
*give back his phone*
kang In-joon
*saves her as 'Seo Eun-chae'*
Seo Eun-chae
See you tomorrow morning, neighbor?
kang In-joon
See you tomorrow👋
They both went home, feeling a lot less like strangers and a lot more like friends
Her Father
[ Morning — Outside the Apartments ]
In-joon is already on his bike, checking his watch
He is as usual right on time
kang In-joon
💭 Did she sleep in?
Suddenly, the lobby door across the street swings open
Seo Eun-chae
* running towards him with a sandwich in her mouth *
Seo Eun-chae
Mmph! (Wait for me!) 🥪
kang In-joon
Slow down!
The bike isn't going anywhere
Seo Eun-chae
* swallows the bite *
Seo Eun-chae
Sorry!
My alarm didn't go off
just as she hops on to the back of the bike an older man walks out of the building
??
Eun-chae! Wait a second!
Seo Eun-chae
Dad? What are you doing down here?
Seo Moon-sik
*Walks up to the bike and looks at In-joon*
Seo Moon-sik
💭 You better not have any ulterior motive, young man
Seo Moon-sik
I just wanted to see who was being kind enough to give my daughter a ride every morning
kang In-joon
*Quickly straighten his posture*
kang In-joon
Oh, hello sir
I'm Kang In-joon
kang In-joon
I live in the building right across the street
Seo Moon-sik
Across the street? I see
Seo Moon-sik
You are a student too?
kang In-joon
Yes, sir
Business Management
Seo Moon-sik
Do your parents live here with you?
kang In-joon
*Eyes dim for a split second*
No, Sir... they passed away a few years ago I live alone
Seo Moon-sik
*Face softens with sympathy *
Ah... I’m very sorry to hear that, In-joon. You’ve worked hard to get where you are
Seo Moon-sik
Then..
Drive safe, okay?
Seo Eun-chae
Okay, Dad!
Enough investigating!
Seo Eun-chae
We're going to be late!
They head toward the campus. The ride is a little quieter than usual as In-joon thinks about his parents
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